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Lee E. Meadows, PhD.
Professor of Management –
Authored: Silent Conspiracy &
Silent Suspicion
Job hoppers take on mantle of valued experience
One of the most interesting occurrences to take place in the
employment world has been the shift in perceptions that pertain to the ‘job
hopper’. Once considered a social pariah whose organizational loyalty was
easily bought, the new ‘transportable employee’ reflects the values and
experiences of ‘Gen X ers’ as they move through the thirty something stage and
the resulting downsizing, layoffs and outsourcing that earmarked a tumultuous
period on their career path. What may have been viewed as ‘frenzied
indecisiveness’ by one generation of employees is nothing more than the
consequence of global economic expansion on the current group of ‘job hoppers.’
They are guilty by reason of job insecurity and their
resumes read like a final tallies in a pinball tournament. The career building
approach that was once based on careful thought and planned activities over a
five year goal model is now slightly contaminated by the frequent job
elimination strategy.
While employment history has always been viewed as an
important marker in determining the character, commitment and work ethic of a
job applicant, it is becoming increasingly normal to see resumes that list a
series of job experiences that the applicant never anticipated as being part of
their career planning. Many have learned to adapt to the ongoing lack of
certainty in the job arena, but there is an understandable concern as to how
this will play out in the long run.
Much ado has been raised lately about the perceptions of
potential employers as they attempt to evaluate the intermittent job
experiences of hundreds of employees suddenly cast adrift…again, from a job
that they didn’t expect to lose. The volume of resumes being submitted to
company websites, Monster.com and Michigancareerbuilder.com would suggest that
we are seeing a trend that will transcend at least one generation of employees.
In the meantime, as you wrestle with how to market your
unplanned multi-industry experiences, keep a few things in mind:
- Your resume is a
communication tool: Give careful thought to how you list your
experiences and what is the message you’re trying to convey. There are a
number of resources available to help you with the wording.
- Your experiences are an
asset: Any job you’ve held, whether it was for six months or
six years taught you something about work life. There is at least one
useable work skill, if not several, that you are able to transport into
another work setting.
- Your attitude is critical: Is
the light at the end of the tunnel coming from a star that’s revealing a
new opportunity or a train about to wipe you out? Career setbacks are
normal part of the new global economy and may have nothing to do with your
work ethic. Your perspective and approach to this challenge is the real
measure of your character. My Human Resource colleagues consistently
remind potential employees that the easiest thing to read in an interview
is the attitude of the applicant.
- Your honesty is paramount: It
does you no good whatsoever to try and artfully dodge the question of “Why
did you leave your last job?” If your unemployed status is the result of
job elimination, downsizing, restructuring, outsourcing or whatever method
was used by your previous employer, then just admit it and explain why the
company used that method. If the event meant that you have an unexplained
gap of time on your resume, then just say it and move on. What you’ll soon
realize is that many of the people interviewing you for a position have
gone through a similar experience and know far too well how it can wreak
havoc on a career.
- Your embellishments are
easily discovered: Employers are much more in tune with the details
of someone’s work experiences, and, whether by law or just good practices,
cast a more watchful eye on stated credentials, job titles and skills
acquired. State the skills you have and how they can be helpful to an
organization. Only list the credentials you have and not the ones you’ve
been meaning to work on and don’t create a nicer sounding title for a job
you previously held.
Finding an individual competitive edge in today’s work
environment is quite a challenge by itself, but the real edge is achieved in
being clear about who you are, what you’ve learned and how it will benefit a
future employer.